Police investigate targeted murder of 17-year-old on University Court

Created 01/05/2012 - 11:47pm

Staff reports

An unidentified gunman walked up to 17-year-old Jason Covington Thursday evening, asked him who he was and fatally shot him, police said.

Now detectives are searching for the person who targeted Covington, of Pecan Street, around 6:30 p.m. Thursday. The teenager stood by on University Court in the Tony Sudekum public housing development as, according to police, several girls argued nearby.

The gunman then approached and shot Covington, who was later pronounced dead at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Metro police don’t yet know why the gunman targeted Covington. They’re asking anyone with information on the shooting to call Crime Stoppers at 74-CRIME and become eligible for a $1,000 reward.